If, therefore, it could be proved, which I know it cannot be, that the generality of the church under the Old Testament made use of any forms of prayers, as mere forms of prayer, without any other end, use, or mystical instruction (all which concurred in their pro- phetical composures), for the sole end of prayer, yet would it not, whatever any pretend or plead, thence follow that believers under the New Testament may do the same, much less that they may be obliged always so to do; for there is now a more plentiful and rich effusion of the Spirit of grace and supplication upon them than was upon those of old. And as our duty is to be regulated by God's commands, so God's commands are suited unto the dispensation of his grace. For persons under the New Testament, who are com- manded to pray, not to make use constantly in their so doing of the gifts, aids, and assistances of the Spirit, which are peculiarly dispensed and communicated therein, on pretence of what was done under the Old, is to reject the grace of the gospel, and to make themselves guilty of the highest ingratitude. Wherefore, although we may and ought to bear with them who, having not received any thing of this promised grace and assistance, nor believing there is any such thing, do plead for the use of forms of prayer to be composed by some and read by others or themselves, and that only, in the discharge of this duty ; yet such as have been made partakers of this grace, and who own it their duty constantly to use and improve the promised aids of the Spirit of God, will be careful not to admit of any such prin- ciples or practice as would plainly annihilate the promise.
Thus much, then, we may suppose ourselves to have obtained in the consideration of this testimony, That God hath promised under the New Testament to give unto believers, in a plentiful manner or measure, the Spirit of grace and of supplications, or his own Holy Spirit, enabling them to pray according to his mind and will. The way and manner of his work therein shall be afterward declared. And it may suffice to oppose, in general, this one promise unto the open reproaches and bold contempts that are by many cast on the Spirit of prayer; whose framers, unless they can blot this text out of the Scripture, will fail at last in their design. We shall not, there- fore, need to plead any other testimony to the same purpose in the
CHAP. III.] GAL. IV. 6 OPENED AND VINDICATED. 265
way of promises. Only we may observe, that this being expressly assigned as a part of the gracious work of the Holy Spirit, as pro- mised under the New Testament, there is no one promise to that purpose wherein this grace is not included; therefore, the known multiplication of them addeth strength unto our argument.
CHAPTER III.
Gal. iv . 6 opened and vindicated.
The next general evidence given unto the truth under considera- tion is the account of the accomplishment of this promise under the New Testament, where also the nature of the operation of the Holy Spirit herein is in general expressed; and this is Gal. iv. 6, "Be- cause ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." An account, as was said, is here given of the accomplishment of the promise before explained; and sundry things may be considered in the words: —
First, The subjects on whom he is bestowed, and in whom he worketh, are believers, or those who by the Spirit of adoption are made the children of God. We receive the adoption of sons; and because we are sons, he sendeth his Spirit into our hearts. And this privilege of adoption we obtain by faith in Christ Jesus: John i. 12, " As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Secondly, there is an especial appellation or description of the Spirit as pro- mised and given unto this purpose, — he is the " Spirit of the Son." That the original ground and reason hereof is his eternal relation to the Son, as proceeding from him, hath been elsewhere evinced ; but there is something more particular here intended. He is called the " Spirit of the Son" with respect unto his communication to be- lievers. There is, therefore, included herein that especial regard unto Jesus Christ the Son of God which is in the work mentioned, as it is an evangelical mercy and privilege. He is, therefore, called the " Spirit of the Son," not only because of his eternal procession from him, but, — 1. Because he was in the first place given unto him, as the head of the church, for the unction, consecration, and sancti- fication of his human nature. Here he laid the foundation, and gave an example of what he was to do in and towards all his mem- bers. 2. It is immediately from and by him that he is communicated unto us, and that two ways: — (1.) Authoritatively, by virtue of the covenant between the Father and him, whereon, upon his accom- plishment of the work of the mediation in a state of humiliation,